{"id":9122,"date":"2026-05-08T16:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T16:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=9122"},"modified":"2026-05-08T16:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T16:08:06","slug":"cases-of-ms-are-surging-in-britain-and-no-one-knows-why-until-now-our-experts-reveal-triggers-behind-the-rise-and-common-deficiency-that-makes-you-more-likely-to-be-struck-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=9122","title":{"rendered":"Cases of MS are surging in Britain and no one knows why… until now. Our experts reveal triggers behind the rise and common deficiency that makes you more likely to be struck down"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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It is an incurable disease that slowly attacks the brain and spinal cord, stripping patients of their mobility and bodily functions \u2013 and experts say it\u2019s on the rise.<\/p>\n

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of multiple sclerosis patients in the UK doubled, rising from fewer than 100,000 to 190,000.<\/a><\/p>\n

Every year, the number of UK patients living with the condition, also known as MS,<\/a> rises by around six per cent, according to research.<\/p>\n

Doctors are also increasingly concerned that more younger people are being diagnosed.<\/p>\n

MS most commonly develops between the ages of 20 and 40, but specialists say diagnoses in children and teenagers have risen in recent years \u2013 something partly linked to better scanning technology and growing awareness of early symptoms.<\/p>\n

However, leading researchers say these factors cannot explain all of the increase. Instead, they argue that something else has caused MS cases to surge.<\/p>\n

Until recently, that cause remained a mystery.<\/p>\n

However, experts now believe they have pinpointed a series of potential MS triggers that could be driving the rise in new diagnoses.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Becky <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Becky Lee had the warning signs of MS at just 21, but ignored them for a decade. Diagnoses in children and teenagers are now increasingly common, specialists say<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Crucially, they also argue that tackling these triggers could prevent countless new cases from occurring in the future.<\/p>\n

\u2018MS is becoming increasingly common,\u2019 says Professor Ruth Dobson, a consultant neurologist at Queen Mary University London.<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, we are diagnosing it earlier and patients are living longer lives, but the rate at which diagnoses are increasing can\u2019t be explained by these factors alone.<\/p>\n

\u2018Our environment is always changing, and it\u2019s possible that some of these recent changes could be responsible. And, if we can work out what\u2019s causing this rise, then it\u2019s possible we could prevent cases too.\u2019<\/p>\n

So, what exactly is MS? And what are the potential causes that scientists are exploring?<\/p>\n

MS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating around the body\u2019s nerves \u2013 called myelin \u2013 damaging the brain and spinal cord. It tends to occur when patients are in their 20s or 30s and is nearly three times more common in women, for reasons that are still unclear to experts.<\/p>\n

Early symptoms include vision problems, muscle weakness, numbness and fatigue.<\/p>\n

Some patients may also experience changes in bladder habits, an electric-shock sensation down the spine or limbs, or even dizzy spells.<\/p>\n

Experts say these symptoms tend to come and go, or worsen over time.<\/p>\n

Once diagnosed, the disease\u2019s progression can be slowed with immune-suppressing medication \u2013 but it cannot be cured.<\/p>\n

Over time, patients can develop paralysis, blindness and loss of bladder control, while the disease also raises the risk of potentially deadly infections.<\/p>\n

There are several different types of MS, each with varying degrees of severity.<\/p>\n

The majority of patients have a form of the disease known as relapsing-remitting MS, where symptoms come and go.<\/p>\n

This can eventually become secondary progressive MS, where symptoms steadily worsen over time.<\/p>\n

About a tenth of patients have an aggressive form called primary progressive MS, where symptoms gradually worsen with no periods of remission.<\/p>\n

Experts say it is still not known why some patients develop one form of MS and not another.<\/p>\n

However, in recent years, experts say there have been a number of breakthroughs in understanding the potential causes of MS.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the strongest evidence is for the link between MS and a common infection called the Epstein-Barr virus. The virus, which is typically spread through contact with saliva such as kissing, causes the common childhood illness glandular fever.<\/p>\n

Many people will catch Epstein-Barr at some point in their lives. However, for some, the virus remains in the body, affecting the immune system and raising the risk of MS.<\/p>\n

In 2022, landmark research concluded that patients who contract Epstein-Barr virus are at least 32 times more likely to develop MS.<\/p>\n

\u2018Almost all MS patients will have had a previous Epstein-Barr virus infection,\u2019 says Professor Dobson. \u2018It seems to prime the immune system to develop MS.\u2019<\/p>\n

Pharmaceutical companies \u2013 including Moderna, one of the Covid vaccine firms<\/a> \u2013 are now developing Epstein-Barr virus jabs in the hope of preventing MS.<\/p>\n

Experts also believe another potential trigger is a lack of Vitamin D \u2013 a substance the body makes when sunlight hits the skin.<\/p>\n

Often thought of as a nutrient, it actually behaves more like a hormone, helping regulate the immune system and control inflammation.<\/p>\n

Around one in six adults and one in five children are deficient, according to official figures.<\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/span> What is multiple sclerosis?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord, damaging the protective coating around nerves and disrupting signals around the body.<\/p>\n

It is not curable, and symptoms vary widely \u2013 some people experience mild problems, while others develop significant disability over time.<\/p>\n

MS affects nearly three million people worldwide, including around one million in the US and 150,000 in the UK.<\/p>\n

It is more than twice as common in women as in men, though the reason for this is not fully understood. Most people are diagnosed in their 20s or 30s.<\/p>\n

The condition is more frequently seen in people of European ancestry.<\/p>\n

The exact cause remains unclear, but experts believe a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers is involved. Factors linked to a higher risk include smoking, low vitamin D levels and certain viral infections.<\/p>\n

Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder issues, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and difficulties with thinking and memory.<\/p>\n

Most people have relapsing-remitting MS, where symptoms flare up and then improve. Others develop a progressive form, in which symptoms gradually worsen over time.<\/p>\n

While there is no cure, treatments and therapies can help manage symptoms and slow progression.<\/p>\n

On average, MS reduces life expectancy by around five to ten years.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Multiple studies \u2013 including a major US paper published in 2006 \u2013 have shown that people with low Vitamin D levels face a significantly higher risk of developing MS. Scientists believe this may be because Vitamin D helps stop the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy nerves \u2013 the process that drives the disease.<\/p>\n

However, experts say it is still unclear whether taking Vitamin D supplements can actually reduce someone\u2019s chances of getting MS.<\/p>\n

\u2018There have been two big studies exploring this,\u2019 says Professor Dobson. \u2018One found that taking Vitamin D tablets lowered the risk of MS, while the other showed it did nothing at all. So it\u2019s still unclear. It\u2019s possible that the protection comes from something else we get from sunlight \u2013 like UV rays.\u2019<\/p>\n

There is also research showing that smoking can potentially lead to MS \u2013 doubling the chance of patients developing the condition, according to some studies.<\/p>\n

\u2018Smoking is linked to a number of autoimmune conditions,\u2019 explains Professor Dobson. \u2018Smoke in the lungs appears to disrupt the immune system.\u2019<\/p>\n

However, experts say these three factors cannot fully account for the recent rise in MS diagnoses \u2013 Epstein-Barr infections have remained stable during this period, sunlight levels have not varied significantly, while the number of smokers in Britain has fallen since 2000.<\/p>\n

Instead, researchers argue that several other factors may be behind the rise.<\/p>\n

One of these is childhood obesity, rates of which rose sharply in the late 1990s. In 1995, only around 11 per cent of children aged eight to ten were classed as obese. By 2003, this figure had risen to 16 per cent. Today, it is around 22 per cent.<\/p>\n

In 2016, US researchers concluded that obese children are twice as likely to develop MS later in life as those of a normal weight.<\/p>\n

Experts say it is possible that excess weight early in life strains the immune system, leading to MS.<\/p>\n

\u2018Body weight is a big factor,\u2019 says Professor Dobson, \u2018And obese adolescents who also develop glandular fever have a particularly high risk.\u2019<\/p>\n

Experts say another societal change that may be, in part, responsible for the increase in MS diagnoses is the amount of ultra-processed food Britons now consume.<\/p>\n

These artificial ingredients \u2013 found in ready meals, takeaways, cereals, sugary snacks and mass-produced bread \u2013 have increasingly made up a large proportion of the British diet since the 1970s.<\/p>\n

Today, studies show that more than half of the calories consumed in Britain come from UPFs.<\/p>\n

While experts say research into the link between UPFs and MS is still in its early stages, there is growing evidence that a diet high in these foods can damage the healthy functioning of the immune system.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s really challenging to work out what effect UPFs are having on MS, but it\u2019s something that researchers are taking seriously,\u2019 says Prof Dobson.<\/p>\n

\u2018There is increasing interest in the impact these artificial foods have on the immune system. I believe we will find that regularly consuming UPFs raises the risk of MS.\u2019<\/p>\n

However, perhaps most interestingly, experts believe another new MS trigger could be the rise in vaping.<\/p>\n

Around 5.4 million people in the UK now vape, according to the Office for National Statistics.<\/p>\n

Concerningly, figures show that one in five British children aged 11 to 17 have now tried vaping, despite it being illegal for under-18s, with usage tripling in the past three years alone.<\/p>\n

\n
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\"Both <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Both smoking and vaping have been proven to disrupt the immune system, which could be a possible trigger for conditions like MS. But one in five Britons under 18 have tried vaping<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Research shows that vaping is significantly safer than smoking cigarettes, which trigger lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD \u2013 conditions that combined kill nearly 70,000 Britons every year.<\/p>\n

However, experts say the same may not hold true for MS.<\/p>\n

Studies show that smoking inflames cells inside the lungs, potentially causing the immune system to misfire. It also weakens the blood-brain barrier, allowing rogue immune cells to enter the brain and begin causing damage.<\/p>\n

According to the charity the MS Trust, \u2018vaping could be just as bad for the blood-brain barrier as smoking\u2019 and \u2018may be just as irritating to the lung lining cells\u2019, meaning it could therefore be \u2018bad for MS risk as well\u2019.<\/p>\n

Professor Dobson agrees with this analysis. \u2018Vaping is a rapidly growing phenomenon,\u2019 she says. \u2018And it may well be that, while it is safer in some ways, it can also prime the immune system to trigger MS.\u2019<\/p>\n

However, while experts agree that MS is on the rise, they stress that the condition remains relatively rare. At present, fewer than one in 400 people in the UK have the condition.<\/p>\n

\u2018Even if you have a strong family history of MS, the chances of you developing it are still low,\u2019 Professor Dobson assures. \u2018We also now have drugs that are effective at slowing MS \u2013 particularly if it\u2019s caught early, which is why it\u2019s important to familiarise yourself with the classic symptoms.\u2019<\/p>\n

She adds that, for those worried about developing MS, there are steps they can take.<\/p>\n

\u2018Quitting smoking and eating healthily are just about the most important things you can do,\u2019 she says. \u2018Minimise the amount of ultra-processed foods you consume, don\u2019t take up vaping and take a normal-strength daily Vitamin D supplement if you need it.<\/p>\n

\u2018Doing these things won\u2019t necessarily stop you from getting MS, but the research suggests they should help reduce the risk.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n

‘My dizzy spells were actually MS’\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Becky <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Becky Lee experienced symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as muscle spasms and indigestion. She now takes the prescription MS drug ofatumumab to treat the disease<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Becky Lee lived with dizzy spells for eight years before she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or MS.<\/p>\n

When the symptoms first began, Becky, from Bristol, was 21 years old.<\/p>\n

She also experienced indigestion \u2013 which she put down to heartburn \u2013 as well as occasional muscle spasms.<\/p>\n

That year, Becky, a project manager, sought medical advice and was told she was suffering from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a condition involving inflammation and damage to the central nervous system that often precedes MS.<\/p>\n

Although she was advised she could \u2018continue living normally\u2019, doctors warned that it could develop into the disease.<\/p>\n

Becky\u2019s symptoms continued to worsen and she eventually developed visual disturbances \u2013 one of the most common symptoms of MS.<\/p>\n

\u2018I remember looking at signs or something in the distance and feeling like it was always slightly shaking or vibrating,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018I also had significant weakness on my left side. Over time, the muscle deteriorated more than normal.\u2019<\/p>\n

Eventually, in February 2023, Becky was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) \u2013 the most common form of the disease, in which symptoms flare up and then ease in cycles.<\/p>\n

She now receives the prescription MS drug ofatumumab, a monthly injection that slows the disease\u2019s progression.<\/p>\n

Becky says that, even with the drug, she still suffers regular symptom flare-ups.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s unpredictable, which can make the future seem uncertain at times. Lots of people with MS probably feel the same.<\/p>\n

\u2018For now, I try to focus on living my life as best as possible rather than worrying too much about what might happen.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is an incurable disease that slowly attacks the brain and spinal cord, stripping patients of their mobility and bodily functions \u2013 and experts say it\u2019s on the rise. Between 2000 and 2020, the number of multiple sclerosis patients in the UK doubled, rising from fewer than 100,000 to 190,000. Every year, the number of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[520],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9122","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hot"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}